Golden oldies: Best cars for the older driver

It may seem pretty incredible, but there more than 200
drivers currently on British roads who are over the age of 100.

Many of those on the roads haven’t even officially taken
their driving test as the formal driving exam wasn’t introduced until 1935.

Still, if practice really makes perfect then surely these
veteran motorists should be some of the best around.

A documentary, 100 Year Old Drivers, is due to air tonight
on ITV at eight o’clock, which will profile the lives of some of these
venerable motorists.

Featured in the programme will be retired teacher Mary
Walker, 100, who claims that despite her age she’s still got the need for
speed.

She said: “It’s exhilarating, going fast. People that drive
slowly, they frustrate you. How fast do I like to go? I don’t think I ought to
answer that!”

However, like anything, your choice of car can make or break
your driving experience.

Older drivers tend to lean towards comfortable cars that are
safe, practical and easy to access over high-performance mean machines.

If you’re an older driver in the market for a new car or a
family member or friend of one, we’ve put together a quick list of some of the
cars we think they might be interested in.

Ford S-MAX

Launched in 2006, Ford’s S-MAX aimed to bridge the gap
between the practicalities of an MPV with the nimble handling characteristics
that have become one of Ford’s trademarks.

Tall and spacious in the inside, the S-MAX is easy to access
and get in and out of. The seven-seater arrangement means that there’s plenty
of room for passengers and the whole family.

The boot boasts a colossal 2,000 litre capacity with the
rear seats folded away, which offers an incredible amount of room and
flexibility. There’s more than enough room for luggage or for shopping, as well
as for wheelchairs or smaller mobility scooters.

A high boot sill also means that the rear is easy to access,
so you don’t have to bend down too far in order to reach the cargo in the back.

Only three trim levels are available: Zetec, Titanium and
Titanium X Sport. While this isn’t as wide a choice as offered by some other
manufacturers, it does mean that it’s slightly more straightforward to choose
an option that suits you, and even the basic Zetec has plenty of equipment as
standard.

Climate control and electric windows are standard for
comfort and ease of use, while parking sensors will aid in backing into tight
spaces.

On the road, the S-MAX is comfortable and refined while also
being fun to drive. The controls are well placed and suspension irons out
virtually all road bumps, giving a smooth ride and the impression that the
S-MAX is a much smaller car than it is.

The model can be specified with a number of petrol and
diesel engines in varying power outputs, with the mid-range 2.0-litre TDCi
diesel offering best all-round value.

It can return 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km, keeping
refuelling and tax relatively cheap, while it also offers a decent amount of
performance.

Combined with pricing of £23,110 for the entry-level Zetec
model, the S-MAX is not only comfortable, entertaining and refined, it’s also
one of the most cost-effective options in its class.

The all-new Soul went on sale earlier this year, and has
received a range of updates courtesy of the Korean carmaker.

It’s taller, wider and longer that its predecessor,
expanding both headroom and legroom for passengers.

What’s more, its taller kerb height means that driver
visibility has been increased, along with ease of access for anyone who finds
it hard to clamber down into a smaller car.

It has also received a funky and chic new makeover courtesy
of Kia’s design team, featuring the new and eye-catching ‘tiger nose’ grille
that’s become a staple on all modern Kia models.

The interior has likewise been overhauled, with a new
upmarket aesthetic and control layout that’s been made more ergonomically
efficient for ease of use.

Five trim levels can be specified, including: Start,
Connect, Connect Plus, Mixx and the range-topping Maxx.

Features available on the Soul include a large eight-inch
touchscreen fitted in all trim levels above the Connect Plus grade, while
digital radio and steering-mounted controls are standard across the range.

There’s also comfortable front seats and a fully adjustable
steering wheel, along with a reversing camera fitting in every version except
the entry level Start model.

Suspension has been reworked, giving the Soul a soft and
comfortable ride on the often inconsistent British roadways, while the model is
remarkably resistant to body roll considering its height.

The 1.6-litre 126bhp CRDi diesel is the pick of the engine
range, which also includes a 1.6-litre petrol version. There’s more power on
tap than in many of its competitors, making overtaking and quick bursts of
speed easy.

Paired with a manual gearbox and the diesel engine will
return 56.5mpg and have CO2 emissions of 132g/km.

There aren’t as many seats as the S-MAX, but the Soul still
has plenty of space inside. There’s also an impressive amount of interior
storage space, with door pockets, cup holders and a large glovebox.

The 354-litre boot can expand to an impressive 1,367 litres
when the rear seats are folded back, meaning that there’s plenty of room for
most luggage. Accessibility is also good thanks to the large boot lid, and it’s
also possible to adjust the height of the boot floor, increasing space by
moving it down or making it more accessible by moving it closer to the boot
lip.

The new Kia Soul is available to buy now, with prices
starting from £12,600 for the entry-level Start model.

Dacia Duster

For those looking for the most value for money, it’s hard to
fault Dacia’s range of budget vehicles.

The Duster SUV is one of the Dacia brand’s hottest-rising
models, increasing in popularity year on year, with a million built as of April.

Rivalling class-leaders like the Nissan Juke but with a
pricetag less than a small city car, the Duster SUV offers astounding value for
money, with prices starting from just £9,495.

The Romanian brand make no attempt to hide the fact that the
Duster is basic; you won’t find any of the range-topping equipment in the model
that you would in other, more expensive brands.

However, this has actually proven popular with a lot of
drivers, particularly older motorists who don’t like the clutter of modern
technological inclusions.

What’s more, Dacia is owned by the Renault brand and shares
much of its construction and components with Renault, meaning that the Duster
is well-made and reliable, plus relatively easy to source spare parts for.

Three trims can be specified: Access, Ambiance and Laureate.
The Access is the most bare-bones of the lot, coming without a radio or
electronic stability control.

However, the top-spec Laureate comes with a decent amount of
mod-cons, including alloy wheels, cruise control and air conditioning, while
still being cheaper than a lot of entry-level superminis.

There’s plenty of space on the inside and rugged,
no-nonsense interior, meaning that passengers will have plenty of room to get
comfortable. Suspension is cushioning and will soak up all but the biggest of
potholes and bumps.

It’s also tall, giving good visibility for the driver and
for other users, and comes with a spacious boot. The 475-litre storage capacity
can be expanded to 1,636 when the rear seats folded down, more than you’d get
in the far more expensive Nissan Qashqai.

The boot’s lip is low so getting bulky items in is easy and
you don’t have to stretch yourself too far to load up the rear. For such a
compact SUV model, Dacia’s engineers have wrung every inch of space out of the
Duster.

Two engines are available, a 105bhp 1.6-litre Renault petrol
engine and a 107bhp 1.5-litre dCi diesel. The diesel is the more economical and
can return 56.5mph with 130g/km of CO2, though it’s only available in the
mid-spec Ambiance trim or above.